Products Claiming to "Cure" Cancer Are a Cruel Deception

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Beware of products claiming to cure cancer on websites or social media platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram.

Legitimate medical products such as drugs and devices intended to treat cancer must gain FDA approval or clearance before they are marketed and sold. The agency’s review process helps ensure that these products are safe and effective for their intended uses.

Nevertheless, it’s always possible to find someone or some company hawking bogus cancer “treatments,” which come in many forms, including pills, capsules, powders, creams, teas, oils, and treatment kits. Frequently advertised as “natural” treatments and often falsely labeled as dietary supplements, such products may appear harmless, but may cause harm by delaying or interfering with proven, beneficial treatments. Absent FDA approval or clearance for safety, they could also contain dangerous ingredients.

The FDA urges consumers to steer clear of these potentially unsafe and unproven products and to always discuss cancer treatment options with their licensed health care provider.

FDA Takes Action

In April 2017, the FDA sent out warning letters to 14 companies, advising them to change or remove the fraudulent claims on their websites. If the companies don’t comply, the FDA may take further legal action to prevent their products from reaching consumers.

Red Flags

While some fraudulent products claim to cure a variety of diseases and conditions, fraudulent cancer products often use a particular vocabulary, Consumers should recognize certain phrases as red flags, including:

• Treats all forms of cancer
• Miraculously kills cancer cells and tumors
• Shrinks malignant tumors
• Selectively kills cancer cells
• More effective than chemotherapy
• Attacks cancer cells, leaving healthy cells intact
• Cures cancer
   
  https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm048383.htm

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Causes of Pancreatic Cancer

Although the exact cause of pancreatic cancer is not known, smoking is the main risk factor, with smokers at least 2 times more likely to have the disease than nonsmokers. Age is also related, with the disease usually striking after age 45. Diabetes is also linked to pancreatic cancer since it's a risk factor, and it can also be a symptom of the disease. Other risks include chronic pancreatitis and cirrhosis of the liver. And family history of pancreatic cancer, high fat diet, obesity, and lack of exercise may also play a part.

Around 60% of children with high-risk neuroblastoma could be treated with dinutuximab beta

Seriously ill children battling high-risk neuroblastoma - a rare type of cancer that mainly affects children and young people – are to be offered a drug which has potential to extend their lives. The British National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) appraisal committee has recommended dinutuximab beta. Modelled trials have estimated the survival gain of the drug is three to five years compared to the current treatment option of isotretinoin.

Neuroblastoma is most common in children under the age of five, and is estimated to affect around 100 Brithish children a year. Sixty per cent of these patients will have access to dinutuximab beta as long as they meet a number of criteria.

It will be given to patients aged 12 months or over whose disease has at least partially responded to first stage chemotherapy, followed by myeloablative therapy and stem cell transplant but only if they have not received anti-GD2 immunotherapy.

Neuroblastoma is a cancer that develops from specialised nerve cells called ‘neuroblasts’, which are left behind after a baby’s development. Treatments for high-risk neuroblastoma include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, stem cell transplant, surgery and isotretinoin.

The new medication is available in US and UK only.